Cessna 185F accident near Naknek, Alaska, September 9, 1982
On September 9, 1982 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 185F, registered N80124, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naknek, Alaska (Naknek Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1982 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Naknek, Alaska · Naknek Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185F · all 185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N80124 · registry record · serial 18503094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A TAKEOFF DOWNWIND IN GUSTY CONDITIONS ON A LAKE WITH MARGINAL CAPABILITIES. SURROUNDING TERRAIN MAKES WIND SWIRLING EDDIES. THE AIRCRAFT LOST LIFT AND IMPACTED ON THE BANK OF THE LAKE IN ALDER BRUSH.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 429 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,239 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5NK Naknek AK at 3:00 pm
- Destination: Z03 Egegik AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 3,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 105° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 113°F (45°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N80124 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.